Clothes wringer



July 30, 1940 s. E. scHRoEDR CLOTHES WRINGER origin-a1 Filed Dec. 1s, 1955 s sheets-sheet 1 I -JulY-30 1940. s. E. scHRol-:DER 2,209,423

CLOTHES WRINGER original Filed Dec. 1s, 1935 s sheets-shet 2 July 3o, 1940.

S. E. scHRoEDER CLOTHES WRINGER Original Filed D90. 13, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 l attendant. walls, and spaced vertical side or end walls. 15-

l5.'. mechanism for the wrngerrolls, tically disposed shaft thereinoperatively con- 55 Patented July 30, i@ y Y y l Unirse1 STATES Prieur oFFlcr.A y u 2,209,423 *5 y I Simon E. Schroeder, (micago, lll., assigner to Electricllousehold Utilities Corporation, Chicago, lll., a corporation oi Illinois 210mm. wiss-zes).

This invention relates to improvements in In said drawings, A indicates the main or w'rlngers oi the power-operated roll type, and ,bottom frame, B the top or auxiliary frame, and v particularly to release mechanism for the rolls C and D respectively the top and bottom rolls of wringers of this character. 1 of my improved wrlnger. The top and bottom 5- This application is a division of my copending rolls C and D are carried respectively by the top 5 application, Serial No. 54,285, filed December 13, and bottom frames B and A in a manner here- 1935. inafter more fully described; One object o! the invention is to provide a The main trame A comprises a channel beamV4 simple and eiiicient mechanism for releasing the member 2li and hollow upstanding posts 2| and rolls of a wringer, which mechanism may be 22 at opposite sides of the frame fixed to the 10 operated with a minimum amount of effort. channel -beam member 20. The channel beam A further object of the invention is to provide member is in the form oi a heavy sheet metal a wringer of the spring-pressed roll type, which stamping open atthe bottom and having a horiis self-releasing, subject to the control oi the zontally disposed top wall, spaced front and rear A more speciilc object of the invention is to The posts 2| and 22 are hollow, the post 2| provide a release mechanism for a roll type oi forming the head of the wringer and containing wringer, wherein release of the rolls is positively the driving gear mechanism thereof. Each post effected through the tension under which the 2| and 22 is provided with inner and outer side 20 roZls are placed during operation of the wringer, walls 23 and 24. A guard plate25 is mounted 20. and releasing operation is restrained by Simple on the inner side of each post 2| and 22, the and eilicientlatch means, which may'be unsame being secured to the corresponding wall latched with practically no effort, thereby per- 23. Each guard plate has a flange for directmitting operation of the release mechanism. ing the water inwardly to bereceived by a tiltable 25 A still further object of the invention is to drainboard 26 beneath the bottom roll D. .The 25 provide `a wringer having cooperating rolls and drainboard 261s tiltable inreverse directions to spi-ing means under tension resisting separation discharge onto xed drainboards 21-21 at oppoof the rolls, wherein the wringer is made selfsite sides of the frame A, as shown in Fig. 2.

. releasing, subject to the control oi/,the attendant, The post 2| has an opening 28 in the outerv by utilizing the power exerted by the spring means side wall 24 thereof, which is closed by a plate- 30 while under tension for operating releasing like casting 29, which serves as a bearing support means, which is normally held under restraint for a controlling lever 30 for stopping and startby manually operable latch means. ing operation of the wringer and operating cer- Other objects of the invention will more clearly tain other mechanism, as hereinafter pointed out.

appear from the description and claims herein- The top'of the post 2| is partly closed by a sup- 35 after following. porting and bracing plate 3|, which ts within In the drawings, forming a part of this specithe post 2| and is secured to the front, rear, and cation, outer side walls thereof. The inner edge of the Figure l is a transverse, vertical sectional view plate 3| is spaced from the inner side wall 23 through the vcentral portion of my improved` of the post 2|, as clearly shown inFig. l. The o wringer. plate 3|. and the top wall of the channel beam Fig. lois a broken view similar to Fig. l, on an member 2|! have aligned openings 32-32, which enlarged scale, showing the mechanism .at the accommodate a vertically disposed tubular' sleeve upper portion oi said ligure. l 33. The -sleeve 33 snugly ts these openings, Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view, correwhich are iianged outwardly, and is xed to the 45 sponding substantially to the line 2-2 of Fig. l'. plate 8| and the beam 20 respectively. A bear- Fig. 3 is a vertical, sectional view, corresponding bracket 34 is fixed to the left-hand side of ing substantially to the line 3-.3 of Figs. 1 and 2. the sleeve 33, as viewed in Fig. l. vThis bracket Fig. 4 is an elevational view of a certain con- 34, together with the sleeve l33, serves as means necting member, said view being broken away. for housing the driving gearing for the wringer. 50

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2, on an enlarged The sleeve 33 projects beneath the beam 20 and scale, showing the parts in a dinerent position. is adapted to telescope over the upper end por- Fig. 6 is a top plan view of-a certain slide, tion of the usual vertically arranged hollow which forms a part of the locking and releasing standard of a washing machine having avernected to and rotated by the driving elements of the washing machine in a well known manner. The shaft of the hollow standard extends upwardly beyond the standard and a considerable distance .into the hollow tubular sleeve 33 and is coupled to the gearing of the wringer by a spined or similar connection. The top portion of such a shaft is indicated by 35 in Fig. 1 and is connected to the gearing of my improved wringer.

The frame B is preferably a heavy sheet metal stamping in the form of a channel member closed at opposite ends and open at the bottom. The frame B is telescoped over the upper ends of the posts 2| and 22 of the frame A, as most clearly shown in Figsl, and forms in effect a cap or cover closing'the top of the wringer. 'I'he frame B carries apair of depending bearing struts 3l-33, in which the top roll C is rotatably supported. l

I'he main frame A also carries spring tension or yielding pressure means for the roll C of the frame B. This spring tension or pressure means below the bottom roll D in the opening of the channel beam member 20. This spring is rel-` atively thick at the center and tapered toward its-opposite ends, and is supported at the central portion thereof by a clip 39, which is ad- `lustably mounted on the channel beam member of the frame A. 'I'he clip 39 is adjustably connected to a supporting plate or brace 40, which is fixed to the front and rear walls of the chan- Anel beam 20. An adjusting nut 4| cooperating with a screw 42 forms the adjustable connection between the plate 40 an'd the clip 39. As will be evident, when the nut 4| is turned, the clip 39 will be adjusted either upwardly or downwardly, depending upon the direction of rotation of the nut, thereby effecting corresponding adjustment of the leaf spring 31. `The connecting slide bars 38-38 are located at opposite ends of the leaf spring 31 and have hooked lower ends 343, which are engaged beneath the extremities of the leaf spring. Each connecting slide bar 58 is limited in its downward movement by a set screw 44 threaded in a platelike section of a supporting bracket 45 fixed to the inner sides of the front and rear walls of the channel beam member 20 at the corresponding side of the wrln'ger. The set screw 44 engages the hooked end 43 of the bar 33 and serves as an adjustable stop or abutment for determining the lower limit of movement of said connecting bar 38. As most clearly shown in Fig. 4, each connecting slide bar 33 is slotted at the upper end portion thereof, as indicated at 45. 'Ihe slot 45, which is closed at both ends, has the upper end portion thereof laterally enlarged, as indicated at 41, to accommodate the engaging end portion of a locking bar, hereinafter more fully described. 'I'he upper end of each connecting slide bar 30 is bent outwardly, as indicated at 40,

said outwardly bent portion being located at the upper end of the slot of said bar. The top wall of the widened portion 41 ofthe slot is inwardly beveled or'inclined, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 4, to properly cooperate with the end of the locking bar hereinbefore referred to. The connecting slide bars 3838 are guided in their movement,by pins 4,9-49 xed tc the main frame A. The'guide pinv 49 for the connecting slide bar 38 at the right-hand side of the wringer, as viewed in Figgi, is ixed to an upstanding ange on the inner side of the plate 3| of the post 2| and is engaged within the slot 46 of the bar 38. The guide pin 49 of the .connecting slide bar 33 at the left-hand side of the wringer, as viewed in Fig. 1, is directly connected to the outer side wall 24 of the post 22. The guide pins 49-49 are headed so as to prevent accidental disengagement of the connecting slide bars 38-38 therefrom.

'I'he top and bottom rolls C and D are of the usual rubber-surfaced type employed in powerdriven wringers. Each roll is supported on a shaft fixed thereto, which rotatably mounts the roll. The shaft of the top roll C is indicated by 50 and the shaft of the bottom roll D is indicated by 5|. As clearly shown in Fig. l, each roll shaft projects from opposite endsA of the roll and is engaged in suitable bearing elements. A clip, in the form of a plate |00,\is interposed between each guard plate and the corresponding ends l of the rolls C and D. Each plate |00 is provided with an opening |0| at the bottom portion thereof, through which the corresponding end of the shaft 5| of the roll D extends. The upper portion of -each plate |00 is slotted, as indicated at |02, to accommodate the corresponding end of. the shaft 50 of the roll C. The slots |02|02 of the .plates |00-I00 are open at their upper ends to permit insertion of the shaft 50 of the roll C and are of such a length as to permit vertical movement of the plates |00|00 with the roll D without interference by the shaft 50 of the roll 'C. 'I'he clips or plates |00 vserve as abutments for taking the end thrust of the`rolls C and D and hold the rolls against endwise displacement. 'I'he bottom roll D, which is 'displaceable vertically to engage the roll C, has the opposite ends of the shaft 5| thereof rotatably journaled in bearing blocks 52-52. The bearing blocks.5252 are open at the top and are lined with bushings of ysemicircular cross section, in which the ends of the shaft 5| are directly supported. The projecting end of the shaft 5| at the right-hand side of the wringer, as viewed in Fig. 1, is connected to a driving gear 53 by a flexible coupling 56. The

gear 53 is journaled in the bracket 34 and is driven by a shiftable gear element 55 having bevel gear members at opposite ends for driving the gear 53 in either right or left-hand direction. The shiftable gear element 55 is rotatable with the shaft 35, being slidingly mounted on the splined portion thereof. Shifting of the gear element 55 is effected by the controlling lever or handle member 30, which is operatively connected to said gear element 55 by a shifting link 56.

The bearing blocks 52--52 foi` the roll D are movably arranged beneath the struts 36-36 of the frame B. Each block 52 is guided between the inner side wall 23 of the corresponding post and the connecting bar 33 at the same side of the wringer. The bearing blocks 52-52 are carried by movable supporting means through which the blocks are raised and lowered so as to eiect raising and lowering of the bottom roll D to force the latter against the top roll C and withdraw the same therefrom. This supporting means comprises links 51-51 pivotally connected at their upper ends to the blocks 52-52, and a bar 58 connecting the lower ends of the links for move- 4ment in unison. The bar 50 and .the links 51-51 are supported for sliding movement on the top wall of the channel beam member 20. 'I'he bar 53 is moved from right to left, as viewed in Fig. 1, to raise the roll D, and in a reverse direction to lower the same. The raising action is effected by operation of the control lever 30, suitable conescasas necting means being employed-to transmit the' motion from the lever to the slide bar 58. Re-

turn or restoring movement of the slide bar 58 to lower the roll D is effected` by spring means Se reacting between fixed abutment means on the main frame A and a depending abutment on the slide bar 58. The motion of the slide bar 58 in its return movement is communicated to the `hereinbefore brieiiy described, are fully and completely disclosed in my copending application,

Serial No. 54,285, of which this application is a division, no further detailed description o! the same is necessary for a clear understanding of e the rstructure and operation thereof, as reference m may be had to said c opending application. H owever, it might be pointed out that the raising of the roll D is manually enected by the control lever 30 when the latter is moved to either side of neutral position by the attendant in shifting the gear element 55 to start the operation of the wringer; that the raising means after havin brought the roll D into operative engagement with the roll C is held in said raised position by the pressure between the rolls as long as'the pressure is maintained; that return of the roll D tolowered position is automatically eiiected by the action of the spring 59 immediately upon vthe pressure between the rolls being broken through release of the mechanism; and that the controlling lever isalso returned to neutral position automatically through the return movement of the raising and lowering mechanism by the spring S9.

The opposite ends of the shaft il of the top roll C are rotatably supported in the struts 38-36 4@ carried by the frame B. The struts IHS, which are in the form of castings, are disposed within the opening of the frame B between the front and rear walls thereof.

E frame B so that they are located at opposite ends of the top roll C and respectively occupy the space between the inner wall of the post 2l and the corresponding connecting bar 38 and the space between the inner wall of the post 22 and the corresponding connecting bar 38. Each strut S6 has an opening between the top and bottom ends i within the hollow portion of the top frame B, are

horizontally slotted, as indicated at BI-BL to form supporting guideways for locking or latch bars 62--62A hereinafter more fully described, which locking or latch barsserve to lock the frame B and the top roll C'carried therebyin.' operative position with respect to the bottom roll D of the wringer. Each strut 36 also carries a combined guard and guide hook member 83 at the top end thereof. The guard and guide hook member 63 is in the form of a plate having the main body portion thereof iixed to the strut and the hook portion thereof extending laterally from the strut and overhanging the upper eni of the corresponding connecting slide bar 38. As shown most clearly in Fig. l, each combned,guard and guide As shownmostfclearly in Fig. l, the struts 36-36 are mounted on the.

The upper end portions hooi?` member t3 hastlie` main body portion'thereof secured over 'the slot Si of the corresponding strut 36, and said platelike body portion forms the upper wall of the guid'eway for the locking bar B2. The combined guard and guide hook 5 members 63-63 face downwardly and have outv wardly bent extremities and servato properly engage the upper ends of the connecting slide bars g 38-38 with the locking bars 62--62 .of the combined locking and latch means and hold these l0 Vparts engaged.

The combined locking and 'latch means for locking the frame B to the frame A is mounted on the frame B and is arranged so as to provide for quick and easy release thereof when-desiredv by lo the operator, thereby effecting complete disensagement of vthe .locking means and permitting lifting ofthe frame B and the top roll C carried thereby and entire removal of these parts from the wringer. latch and locking means, which includes the bars 82;-8'2, iscontrolled by a manually-actuated hand piece or'slide 64 mounted in the frame B. As shown most clearly in Figs. 2, 3, and 5, the slide 64 is mounted for horizontal movement in guide 25 openings or slots 65-85 provided in the front and rear walls respectively of the frame B. As shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 5, thecpenings 65-85 are hanged inwardly around theirv edges so as to form vample guide surfaces. The slide 64 comiii) prises a pair of hand pieces 66-68 at opposite sides thereof, a central longitudinally extending bar 61 parallel to the hand pieces 66-46, and

transverse connecting plates el-Q and 68-69 at opposite ends thereof secured 'to the hand 85 pieces 66-68 and the central bar 61. Each hand piece 86 is in the form of a hollow channelshaped member closed at opposite ends and open at the inner side. `'I'he plates of each pair 68-69 have their outer ends fixed to thel top flanges or 40 webs of the hand picees 66-66 respectively. The inner ends of said pair of plates 68-69 are iixed to the corresponding end of the bar 61 by rivets or any other equivalent securing means. The pairs of plates 68-69 and 68-69 have upstanding 45 stop lugs l0-J0 at opposite sides of the slide 6l, which are adapted to engage with the front and rear walls of the frame B to restrict lateral outward movement of theslide 6I with respect to said frame B. Each plate 69 of the slide Slis 50 provided with a set of cam faces 'll-li, which arev reversely inclined and are adapted to cooperate with a slide frame '12, as hereinafter pointedy out.

The slide 12, as most clearly shown in Figs. 1, 55 la, 3, and 6, isin the form of an arched plate l or saddle member having a central opening 'I34 and depending guide feet I4-i4 and 14-14 at opposite ends thereof, which are in the form of folded lugs bent from said plate. The feet 1l 60 'il and 1I--l4 rest o n the inturned top .flanges of the slots or guide 4openings 65--651 of the frame B and serve to support and guide the saddle member 12 longitudinally of the frame B. A The saddle member 12 has two spaced lcam lingers 65 l5-'l5 depending from the top wall thereof. Each cam finger 15 is in the form of a. plate having a depending lug Y'iii thereon to which one end of a tension spring .1l is anchored. The opposite end of the spring 'l1 is anchored to a depending 70 Vlug 1B on the plate Seat the corresponding end of the slide 64.' As will be seen, the cam ngers 15-15 of-the sliding saddle 12 are thus held in yielding engagement with the cam faces 'lill of said plates 69-69. In order to p rovide proper 75,

The operation of the combined 20 l ngers are provided with reversely bent lips 19-19 at the lower ends thereof, the rounded surfaces of said lips directly engaging the cam faces 1|-1l and 1l-1I of the slide 84. The saddle 12 is further provided with a 'depending keeper member 80, which is in the form of anV angularly disposed plate having a rounded lip 8| at the outer edge of the lower portion thereof, which is adapted to cooperate with a keeper-engaging linger or latch member 82. A supporting bracket 83' in the form of a bent elongated bar is xed to the inner side of the top wall of the frame B and extends through the opening 13 of the saddle slide member 12. The supporting bracket 83 has a depending oilset portion 8l on which the latch iinger 82 is pivotally supported by means of a pivot screw or bolt 85. 'I'he bracket 83 is further provided with a horizontally disposed depending tongue 88 at the right-hand end thereof, as viewed in Fig.' 1a, this tongue being in a'plane aboveA the pivotal connection of the finger 82- with said bracket and serving as a support for a spring abutment plate 81, which is secured thereto. The shank portion of the flnger 82, which is indicated by 88 and through which the pivot 85 extends, is in the form of a link member connecting the inner ends of the latch bars 62-82. As shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 5, the engaging portion proper of the latch finger 82 extends at an angle to the shank portion 88 thereof and has a head 89 at'the outer end thereof having a rounded end face and a nib 90 at one side thereof, which is adapted to hook over the keeper 8|. At the left-hand end, as viewed in Figs. 2 and 5, the shank 88 of the finger 82 is pivotally connected to the inner end of the latch bar 62 by a pivot member 9|. Near the opposite end, the shank 88 of the nger 82` is pivotallyv connected to the inner end of the other latch bar 62 by a pivot member 92. The two locking bars 62-62 are thus operatively connected by the shank 88 of the linger 82, said shank forming a connecting link. The finger 82 is normally yieldingly urged to the position shown in Fig. 2 by means of a spring 93 reacting between the spring abutment plate 81 and the shank 88 of the finger 82. The spring 93 is supported on-an elongated pin 94, which has a head 95 at the left-hand end, as viewed in Figs. 2 and 5. 'I'he pin 94 extends through an opening in a right angular bent section 96 of the abutment plate 81, thus supporting the pin for sliding movement.v 'I'he head end of the pin'94 is anchoredl to a laterally project- .ing lug 91 on the shank 88 of the linger 82 by means of a hooked end portion `on said pin engaged'within an opening provided in said lug. The spring 93 is of the compression type and bears at opposite ends respectively on the head 95 of the pin 98 and the abutment projection 88 of the plate 81. To limit the swinging movement of the finger 82 and arrest the movement of the locking or latch bars 62-82 in their disengaged position, as shown in Fig. 5, the bar 82 at the right-hand end of the wringer, as viewed in said gure, is provided withl an upstanding stop pin 98, which is 'engaged by the nib 90 of said finger. To facilitate engagement and disengagement of the latch or locking bars 82-82 with the connecting slide bars 38-38 of the spring mechanism, the outer ends of the bars 62-82 are beveled as shown.

, When the frame B is locked to the main frame A, the parts are substantially in'the positions shown in Figs. 1, 1a, 2, and 3. At this time, the loclnng bars 82-82 are positively held in'llatchbearing faces on the cam fingers --15,Vy these ing engagement with the connecting bars 38-38 of the spring mechanism by engagement of the latch nger 82 with the keeper 88.0f the sliding saddle member 12. As will be evident, the springs 11-11 yieldingly maintain the saddlev12 in position with the keeper 80 interlocked with the iinger 82. In the operation of the wringer, the bottom roll D is raised upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 1 and forced against the top roll C. The pressure exerted by the roll D against the roll'C raises the latter, thereby raising the struts 38-36 and the connected parts of the frame B, together with the connecting bars 38-38, which are locked to the frame B by the llatch or locking bars82--62. The leaf spring 31 will thus be exed by the upward pull of the connecting bars 38-38 thereon, placing the rolls C and D under yielding spring pressure. During p the operation of the wringer, the rolls will be separated by the article being passed therebetween, thereby placing the leaf spring 31 under additional tension. To release the frame B together with its roll C in case of emergency or when it is found desirable to do -so for any other reason, the operator pushes the slide 64 to either side of the position shown in Fig. 2, thereby camming the saddle member 12 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, and displacing the keeper 88 from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 5. The nib 98 oflthe latch finger 82 will thus be freed to permit swinging movement of said finger. Due to the forces -reacting between `the beveledl outer ends `of the latch bars 62-82 and the inclined abutment faces on the connecting bars 38-38, the locking bars 62-62 will be cammed inwardly until they are freed from the bars Bil-38. Due to the pull produced by the tension of the spring 31, the connecting bars 38-38 will be pulled downwardly a sufiicient distance to clear the ends of the bars 62-62 from the latch openings of the bars 38-38. As will be clear upon reference to Fig. 5, which shows the slide 68 displaced to one side, the locking bars 62-82 when forced inwardly free of the connecting bars 38-38 will swing the finger 82 to a position where it engages the stop pin 98. During this action the spring 93 will be compressed, thus tending to force the nger 82 to return to the normal position shown in Fig. 2. In this connection, it is pointed out that after the saddle 12 has been actuated to release the keeper 88 from the finger 82, it will immediately be restored to the normal position shown in Fig. 2 due to the pull of the springs 11--11. In returning the finger 82 to the normal position by the action of the spring 93, the latch bars 82-62 are forcedyieldingly outwardly and ride up on the inclined ends of the bars 38-98 until the nger 82 is again engaged with the keeper 80, as shown in Fig. 2. When the frame B has b een thus unlocked from the frame A, the operator may entirely withdraw the. frame B from the frame A. 4

In replacing the frame B on the frame A and locking the parts together, the operator forces the frame B downwardly onto the frame A, thereby causing the outer ends of the locking bars 82-62, which are held against inward movement by the latch finger 82, to engage the inclined upper end portions of the connecting bars 38-38 of the spring mechanism to force or bend the -latter apart. As the bars 62-62 are rigid at this time, the ends thereof will ride down the inclined portions of the bars 38-38 while the hodk members 83-63 are being engaged over the upper ends of the bars. When the frame B has been agnes forced downwardlya sufficient distance to bring the engaging ends ofthe locking bars 62--62 in alignment with the locking openings of the connecting bars 3838, the beveled ends of the bars 62--82A will snap into the locking openings due to the inherent resiliency of the connecting bars 38-38. This action will be assisted by the guide hooks 63-63, which cam the upper ends of the bars 38--38 inwardly. During this action, the hooks t3-53 may yield slightlyin an upward direction to permit the beveled ends of the bars 82-62 to be engaged in the openings of the bars .S8- 38. When the parts have been thus locked together, the combined guard and guide hooi: members 63-63 effectively hold the upper ends of the bars 38-38 against spreading, thereby maintaining the same in interlocked relation with the bars B2--62. i

In the operation of the particular wringer herein disclosed, the bottom roll D is forced upwardly against the top roll C when the wringer is started, thereby raising the rollv C against the resistance of the spring 31. Pressure is thus placed on the cooperative beveled faces of the bars 62-62 and the bars Sii- 38. When an article is passed between the rolls of the wringer, the top roll C will be still further raised against the resistance of the spring 31, thereby increasing the force acting on the beveled faces hereinbeiore mentioned. In case of emergency, as when the' wringer rolls become jammed, or an article becomes accidentally wound about the rolls, the operator may instantaneously release the pressure on the rolls by applying slight pressure to the slide S4. The pressure on the slide will move the same laterally and cam the saddle member 12 outwardlyto disengage the keeper 80 from the iinger 82, thereby permitting the locking bars 62--62 to move inwardly, as hereinbeiore described. Due to the enormous" pressure exerted between the engaging beveled faces of the bars 62-62 and the connectingl bars 38-38, the releasing action of the bars 62-62 is positive and instantaneous. 'As will be evident, onLv slight pressure on the slide the keeper 80 from the linger l2 and thereby free the bars 62-82 from restraint. 'Ihe wringer is' thus self-'releasing in action under control of the operator who merely disengages the restraining means for the bars 6242, comprising the keeper 80 and the linger 82. It is further pointed out that in eiIecting release of the mechanism no manual eiort to disengage the bars 62-62 from the baren-38 is required, it being necessary only to remove the holdcn the bars 62-62 by releasing the ringer l2, whereupon the bars 62-62 will be'forcibly projected to the unlocked position by the energy of the spring 31, which tensions the top roll C of the wringer.

Provision is also made for automatically unlocking the frame B from the main frame A` when the wringer rolls become jammed due to an article being wound about the top roll. The bar 61 is located closely adjacent to the top of the roll C, as clearly shown in Figs. l and la, so that an article'accidentally -wound about`said roll will engagethe bar B1, thereby moving the slide 64 laterally. Lateral movement of the slide 6| will release the latch mechanism, as hereinbefore described.

Y Although. my improved locking and releasing' mechanism has been herein illustrated as employed in connection with a wringer wherein the bottom-roll is raised against 'the top roll to bring' S4 is required to disengage' the rolls into operative relation, it will be evident `that the invention is not limited to wringers of this particular type but may be employed as' well in connection with wringers of any other well known type, wherein the rolls are at all times in pressure-exerting relation with respect to each other when the parts are locked, in other words, wringers wherein the roll which is opposed to the spring-pressed roll is not displaceable with respect to the latter.

I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying out my invention, but the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

l. In a wrlnger, the combination with a frame,

a pair of cooperating rolls therein; of a carrier for one of said rolls; yielding pressure-exerting means in said frame; pressure-transmitting means connected to andv actuated by said iirst named means; and means for connecting the carrier to said pressure-transmitting means-totransmit the pressure to said carrier and force the rolls into engagement with each other, said con-A necting means including movable locking means on said carrier, cooperating keeper means on said pressure-transmitting means, said keeper means having camming engagement with the locking means to eiect release of the latter from the keeper means, and releasable latch means on said carrier for holding the locking means engaged with the keeper means- 2. In a wrlnger, the combination with a pair of cooperating rolls; of a main frame and an auxiliary frame, in which said rolls are respectivelymounted; .spring means mounted on one of said frames and releasable locking means connecting said spring means to the other frame to hold said lrolls-in pressure engagement,said releasable locking means including a connecting member for transmitting the pressure from said spring means, a locking bar on said auxiliary frame in wedging engagement with said connecting member to receive the pressure therefrom, latch means on said auxiliary frame for holding said locking bar in wedging engagement with the connecting member, and manually actuated means for releasing said latch means to free said locking bar and permit the same to be forced out of locking engagement with said connecting member bythe wedging action between said locking bar and connecting membe Y 3. In a wringer, the combination with a pair of cooperating rolls; of a main frameand an auxiliary frame, in which said rolls are respecspring means, locking bars on said auxiliary frame inwedging engagement with said connecting.

members to receive the pressure therefrom, latch means on said auxiliary frame for holding-said locking bars in wedging engagement with the connecting members, and manually actuated means for releasing said latch means to free said.

locking bars and per'mit the same to be forced out oi locking engagement with said connecting members by the wedging action between said locking bars and connecting members 4. In awringer, Ithe combination with a pairv of rolls; of main and auxiliary frames respectively carrying said rolls; a sliding keeper on said auxiliary frame; means yieldingly opposing sliding movement of said keeper; aswinging latch member on said auxiliary frame engagejable with the keeper; apair of oppositely movable locking bars eccentrically connected to said latch member; spring'means for swinging said latch member into locking engagement with said keeper and projecting said locking bars; manually actuated means having camming engagement wit-h the keeper'to disengage the same from the .latch member to permit swinging movement of said latch member; connecting members locked to said bars when projected; a spring on the main frame for placing said connecting members under tension to force said rolls together; and cooperating cam means on said bars and connecting members for forcing said bars inwardly when said keeperl is disengaged from the latch member to unlock said bars from said connecting members and thereby swing said latch member against the resistance of its spring means and energizing said spring means to return the latch means to locking engagement with the keeper.

5. In a Wringer, the combination with a pair of cooperating rolls; of main and auxiliary frames respectively carrying said rolls; a spring on said main frame; movable locking bars on said aux--k iliary frame; releasable latch means for holding said bars projected; connecting members with which said projected bars are held interlocked, said connecting members being onchored to said spring to yieldingly oppose movement of said auxiliary frame and the roll carried thereby; and manually operated means for releasing said latch means from holding engagement with respect to said bars, said locking bars and connecting members having camming engagement with each other to eiect release of said bars, by the pressure o1' said spring, when the latch means is released. 6. In a wringer, the combination with top and bottom rolls; of a main frame carrying said bottom roll; an auxiliary frame carrying said top roll; a spring on said main frame; connecting bars at -opposite sides of said main frame yieldingly opposed against upward movement by said spring; a pair o1' oppositely movable, horizontal locking bars on the auxiliary frame; yielding means for projecting said locking bars; releasable latch means for holding said locking bars projected and in locking engagement with said Connecting bars, the engaged portions of said connecting and locking bars having inclined pressure-transmitting faces for pressing said locking bars inwardly against the holding action of said latch means; and manually operated means for releasing said latch means to permit inward movement of said locking bars against the reaction of said yielding means for unlocking of said locking bars from the connecting bars.

7. In a wringer, the combination withv a pair vof cooperating rolls; of a main frame and an auxiliary frame, in which said rolls are respectively mounted; spring means mounted on one of said frames; releasable' locking means connecting said spring means to the other frame `to hold said rolls in pressure engagement, said releasable locking means including cooperating interengaging locking elements subjected to tension by said spring means; latch means on said auxiliary frame for positively holding said locking elements in pressure-transmitting engagement; means for releasing said latch means to escasas zontal locking bars on the auxiliary frame having wedging engagement with the bars of the main frame to receive the pressure from said spring, said locking bars being normally pressed inwardly by said wedging engagement; mean's for holding said locking bars against inward movement, thereby locking the same to the bars of the main frame to transmit the pressure of the spring to said auxiliary frame and the roll carried thereby; and manually operated means for releasing said holding means to permit inward movement of said locking bars through the wedging` engagement between the latter and the bars of the main frame, thereby unlocking the locking bars and disconnecting said auxiliary frame.

9.1In a wringer, the combination of a frame structure including a mainframe and an auxiliary frame; a pair of cooperating rolls carried by the frame structure; connecting bars; a spring on said main frame exerting a yielding inward pull on said bars; locking bars on said auxiliary frame; means for projecting said locking bars;

ymeans for holding said locking bars projected;

means for holding said locking bars projected; keeper means on said connecting barswith which said projected locking bars are sprung into engagement to lock said frame together, said keeper means having squeezing engagement with said locking bars to press the same inwardly of the auxiliary frame; and manually actuated means for releasing said holding means to lpermit said locking bars to be squeezed inwardly and unlocked from the connecting bars to release said auxiliary frame from the main frame.

11. In a wringer, the combination with 'a pair of cooperating rolls; of a support for each roll: yielding'pressure-exerting means carried by one of said supports; releasable means connected to said :rst named means and the other support and adapted in one position of adjustment for positively transmitting the pressure of said first named means to said last named support and the roll carried thereby, said connecting means including separable members actuated by said yielding pressure means for disconnecting saidl second named means from said other support; and releasable holding means for normally holding said separable members in locked engagement with each other.

12. In a wringer, the combination of a frame structure including a main frame and an auxiliary frame; a pair of cooperating rolls carried by the frame structure; spring means on said mainframe; a movable locking bar on said auxs' gagement with each other to effect release of said bar when the latch means is released.

13. In a wringer, the combination of a frame structure including a main frame and an auxiliary frame; a pair of cooperating rolls carried by the frame structure; a spring on said main frame; movable locking bars on said auxiliary frame; releasable latch means for holding said bars projected; connecting members with which said projected bars are held interlocked, said connecting members being anchored to said spring to yieldingly oppose movement of said auxiliary frame; and manually operated means for releasing said latch means from holding engagement with respect `to said bars, said locking bars and connecting members having camming engagement with each other to effect release of said bars when the latch means is released.

14. In a wringer, the combination of a frame structure including a main frame and an auxiliary frame; a pair of cooperating rolls carried by the frame structure; spring -means mounted y auxiliary frame; and manually operated meanson one of said frames; releasable locking means connecting said Vspring means to the other frame to hold said rolls in pressure enga Aement, said releasable locking means including cooperating inter-engaging locking elements subjected to tension by said spring means; latch means on said auxiliary frame for positively holdingsaid locking elements in pressure-transmitting engagement; means for releasing said latch means to' permit operation of said locking elements through the tension exerted by said spring means; sprir means for yieldingly maintaining said locking ,elements in said locked relation; and separate spring means serving to yieldingly oppose movement of said releasing means.

15. In a wringer, the combination of a fram structure including a main frame and an auxiliary frame; a pair of cooperating rolls carried by the frame structure; a spring on said main frame; movable locking bars on and enclosed in said auxiliary frame; releasable latch means for holding said bars projected; 'connecting members with which said projected bars are held interlocked,

. said connecting members being anchored tol said spring .to yieldngly oppose movement of said for releasing said latch means from holding engagement with respect to said bars, said-locking bars and connecting members having camming engagement with each other to eiiect release of said bars when the latch means is released.

16. In a wringer, the combination of a frame structure including amain frame and an auxiliary frame; a pair of cooperating rolls carried by the frame structure; a spring on said mainframe; horizontally movable locking bars carried by and enclosed in said auxiliary frame; spring means urging said bars in projected position; releasable latch means for holding said bars projected; connecting members with which said projected bars are held nterlocked, said connecting bars being anchoredjto said spring on the main frame to yieldingly oppose movement oi Vsaid auxiliary frame; and manually operated means for releasing said latch means from holding engagement with respect to said bars, said locking bars and connecting members having camming engagement with eachother to effect release of said bars when the latch means is released.

17. In a wringer, the combination of a frame structure including a main frame and an auxiliary frame; a pair ofcooperating rolls carried by the frame structure; a spring on said main frame; movable locking bars on and enclosed in said auxiliary frame; releasable latch means for holdmg said bars projected; connecting members with which said projected bars areheld interlocked, said connecting-members being anchored to said spring to yieldingly oppose movement of said auxiliary frame; and manually operated means.

for releasing said latch means from holding lengagement'with respect to said bars, said locking disposed elongated operating elements projecting through apertures in the respective side walls of saidauxiliary frame, above said rolls.

18. In a wrlnger, the` combination of a frame structure including a main trame and an auxiliary frame; a pair of `cooperating rolls carried by the frame structure; a spring on said main frame; movable locking bars on and enclosed in said auxiliary frame; releasable latch means for holding said bars projected; connecting members with which said projected bars are held interlocked, said connecting members being anchored to said spring to yieldingly oppose movement of said aux;l iliary frame; and manually operated means for releasing said latch means from holding engagementv with respect to said bars, said locking bars and connecting members having camming engagement with each other to effect release of said bars when the latch means is released, said removement as a unit in horizontal direction transaxially of the rolls.

19. In a'wringer, the combination of a frame structure including a main frame and an auxiliary frame; a'pair o! cooperating rolls carried by the frame structure; connecting bars; a spring on said main frame exerting a yielding inward pull on said bars; locking bars on said auxiliary frame; means for projecting said locking bars; means 'for holding said locking bars projected; and

keeper means on said connecting bars with which said projected locking bars are snapped into en gagement when said auxiliary frame is pressed onto the main frame to lock said frames together, said keeper means also being provided with cam surfaces adapted to be engaged by said projected locking bars to first squeeze them inwardly for permitting locking registration and engagement with said keeper means when the auxiliary frame is pressed onto the main frame to lock said frames together.

`20. In a wringer, the combination of a frame structure including a main frame and an auxiliary frame; a pair of cooperating rolls carried by the frame structure and mounted for vertical seperation relatively to each other; yielding pres- 16 sure-exerting means carried by said frame structure; releasable locking means adapted in one position of adjustment for rendering said yielding means operative for urging the rolls into pressure engagement with each other; and means actuated automatically upon an article being Wound around one of said rolls for releasing said locking means to render said yielding means inoperative and permitting vertical separation of the rolls, said last mentioned means including a movable abutment disposed adjacent the periphery of one of the rolls in a. position to be encountered by the article being wound around the roll.

21. In a. wringer, the combination of a frame structure including a main frame and an auxil iary frame; a. pair of cooperating rolls carried by the frame structure and mounted for vertical separation relatively to each other; power operating driving means for rotating said rolls; yielding lpressure-exerting means carried by said frame structure; releasable locking means adapted in one position of adjustment for rendering said yielding means operative for urging the rolls into pressure engagement with each other; means actuated automatically upon an article being wound around one of said rolls for releasing said locking means to render said yielding means inoperative and permitting vertical separation of the rolls, said last mentioned means including a movable abutment disposed adjacent the periphery of one of the rolls in a position to be encountered by the article being. wound around the roll; and means actuated by said movable abutment, simultaneously with the release of said locking means, for disconnecting the driving means to stop rotation of the rolls.

SMON E. SCHROEDER. 

